How Drag Fits in to the LGBTQ+ Community

[cartoon image of a line of drag queens holding a pride flag banner overhead]

As International Drag Day was earlier this month I thought we could discuss how drag fits into the LGBTQ+ community.

The term drag originated in the 19th century as British theater slang and was simply used to describe women’s clothing donned by men. Today the term drag refers to a type of entertainment where people dress up and perform.

Drag queens often present themselves with a persona that is exaggeratedly feminine, and while people of any gender can be drag queens, many prominent drag artists are still people who identify as men. In contrast, drag kings perform stylized forms of masculinity. Drag kings are less common than drag queens, but they do exist. Here again people of any gender may be drag kings, though many will identify as women outside of their persona. Another important thing to note is that although many people who do drag are gay or lesbian, drag performers can have any sexual orientation or gender identity.

Many drag performers have a drag persona as part of their performance in addition to the self they live in their everyday life. The persona will of course look different, but often also has a different name with their own gender pronouns. However, as drag is typically seen as a performance and not an integral part of their identity the way that gender is, even if a performer uses a different name or pronouns when while performing, this does not necessarily mean that they are transgender.

It is important not to assume that someone in drag is transgender, or vise versa. The majority of transgender people are not drag performers, and treating their identity as a performance is hurtful and suggests that their identity is just a show rather than who they are which is not accurate.

Unfortunately, like transgendered people, drag performers can also experience discrimination on the basis of their gender expression. Further it is important to respect the performer’s persona’s gender and pronouns when they are performing as it would be with anyone’s gender.

Questions to consider:

1. Can you think of any famous drag kings or queens?

2. Have you ever seen a drag show? What is your favorite part of drag?

3. How do you feel drag fits in he LGBTQ+ community?

Sources:

https://transequality.org/issues/resources/understanding-drag

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